Beneath the (butterfly) veil

Butterflies have a reputation for sweetness and light, and are often used as emblems of a benign nature. Not so fast, says butterfly guru, Steve Woodhall.

Euchrysops malathana — members of Euchrysops typically have a mutualistic relationship with ants (Photograph: Steve Woodhall)

In his regular articles on Verloren Valei’s butterflies, LepSoc Africa’s Justin Bode often unpacks the intricate relationships between various butterflies and other insects (like ants) across their life cycle. Equally, frequently, it seems, the complexities of the relationship are as yet unclear. Like all living creatures, butterflies ensure their survival through a complicated web of relationships with other living forms, sometimes symbiotic, sometimes parasitic.

Of particular interest is how many butterfly species interact with ants, sometimes to their mutual benefit, sometimes not.

In this article, Woodhall takes a closer look at the varied ways in which butterflies and ants interact. It’s quite fascinating. Read the full article.

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